Caster



Sept. 4, 1951 J. P. REINHARDT CASTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 4. 1947 fig. .9

Fig

Gttomeg Patented Sept. 4, 1951 U IS TATiEJS PATENT OFFICE CASTER John P.. Reinhardt, Brooklyn, :N.'Y.

ApplicationAprilfL 1947, SeiialNof' 39,441

This invention relates to casters of kthettype which include ia sbrake means. therefor.

An :object of this invention bis 'to yprovide a caster .structure of :thefcharacter described Aoomprising improved rbrake #means which is :adapted to positively lock the `'casterwheel and is'readily `disengaged therefrom.

Another objectrof this inventionis toprovde azcaster structureof the characteridescribedcomprising .a vcaster `wheel .and a rotatable `,member adapted lto ymove rtowards and -faway from the caster `wheel whereby said :rota-table member :constitutes albrake Whenitlis moved towards said caster Wheel. i

Still a further `object-.ofthis invention is to provide :a icastertstructure o'f the characterde-l scribed comprisingza'fshank, a- `caster wheel swivelly mounted fon csa-id shank and ra Vrotatably mounted sleeve .onsaidwshankwhichis adapted uponrotation in one:directionatofapplypa.positive `braking action on said-caster wheel.

Yet another `objectvof this 'inventionis `to provide r a caster structure` of the*characterv` described comprising a shank, a "caster Wheel lsvvivelly mounted .onsaid `shank-'anda rotatable member mounted on Asaid shank, said rotatable `member .being'adapted uponrotat-ioniin one direction-to contact-:abase surface and upon-.continued.rotation in thefsamze direction to `raisesaid caster wheel .out of v-contaot with --said base isurface.

Yet a further objectief thisdnventionis to pro- -vide a strong,` durable, and-compactrcasterstructure of `thecharacter described, Which'iwould tbe relatively vinexpensive to .manufactura -easy to manipulate, -and which is -yet practical to `a `high degree `in use.

:Other `objects `of #this :invention will :ingpart -be obvious and :part ihereinafter pointed y out.

The Vinvention faccordingly :consists in` the features of construction, Ycombinations of elements, .and Iarrangement-,ofcarts-which Pwill be exempli- `fied 1'the 'construction .hereinafter fdescribed, `and of which the :scope-.of `application will'be .indica-ted in the `following clairns.

In the accompanying drawing Yin `which vis shown Ivarious possible v.illustrative embodiments of rthis invention,

Fig. l is .an fend elevational view .of -the l caster `construction embodying `the invention;

Fig.2is across-sectional view-takenon tlierline 4 .2--2 of Fig. `l;

.,Fig. Bris atop=plan-viewofthe caster construction -shown'inl'ig `1;

yIiigfi `is .a -side elevational :vies/V, with .parts 1in section, :of Va caster icons truction, embodying 'the l2 invention and illustrating a modified-construction;

Fig. 5 is a vcross-sectional view taken-'on the line5-5ofFig. 4;

Figf isan 'endyiewofthe operating'portion of the'swivel locking `mechanism shown in'fFig. 4i

Fig. 7 is Aa "cross-sectionalfview taken on the line `-'I 'of Fig. 4;

8 is across-'sectional view of a toaster construction embodyingigthe invention and illustratn ing a modied construction; and

Fig. 9 is asidevelevational view of acasterconstruction embodying .the invention 'and illustrating another modified construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I0 designates a .caster construction embodying the invention. 'The same comprises a yoke member II which comprisesapair of similar parallel'legs t2 which are ,interconnected .at their upper ends by a substantially circular horizontal wall vI3. The wall I'Bisformed `With a central opening 14 `for.thepurposehereinafterappearing. A pin I5 is mountedon the'lower endportions of the legs 'I2 offset Withrespect .to .the .opening `I4 Yin the wall i3 .and a .caster wheel I6 is` rotatably vmountedon .the pin between the legs. v

.A shank I 'I .which .is .adapted .to .be `ifrictionall engaged .in -an end portion of -a structure .to be provided with thecasterfembodying the. invention, such as.thetubularlegmember Illa hasareduced end portion i8 whichfforms a shoulder i9. A circulardisc .28 formed with a `central opening 2l, is received Ontheshank ITLlyingin contact with theshoulder I endsecureditheretoby 4a pin 22. The end `ofthe tubular member Ha rests on the..uppe1surface.of :the disc.20. rIfhe end-23 of thereduccdportion I8 ofthe shank I1 is threaded and projects-.through the opening I4-.in the-wall 4Iandissecured thereto byanut-Z which may be :locked into Lposition by fa setscrew V25. 'The circular disc-Eiland-the circular-Wall 413 form the .uppera-nd-.lower racesfor ball bearingsla. The circulardiscZD, Which is iof slightly larger diameter than the circular `Wall 43, `comprises a screw threaded peripheral `portion 26. An internally threaded screw sleeve member 21 ismountedrfor rotatablefengagementwith the threaded portion 28 of the'discZil.. ATheouter.surface.olf thesleeve 21 'is :formed with-vertically extending' gear .teeth 28 =fcr 4the ,purpose Vhereinafter appearing.

Extending outwardlyffrom the legs I2 of the yoke Il on the other-side ofthevpin flxareapair of parallel arms V29 -Which .are interconnected.at their ends yby a web30. .The'webllfcomprises a centrally located enlargedssection l(il iis thereon.

formed with a vertically extending through opening 32. Extending outwardly and upwardly from the enlarged section 3| is a vertical arm 33 having its upper end portion 34 enlarged and turned inwardly in alignment with the enlarged section 3|. The end portion 34 is formed with a vertically extending through opening 55 which is aligned with the through opening 32 in the enlarged section 3|. A headed pin 36 is rotatably mounted in the through openings 32, 35. The lower end of the pin 36 projecting through the opening 32 in the enlarged section 3| is threaded and a nut 31 is screwed thereon to prevent longitudinal movement of the pin. A pinion gear 38 is secured to a central portion of the pin 36 between the enlarged section 3| and the arm end 34. The teeth 39 on gear 39 engage the teeth 2B on the sleeve 21.

When it is desired to apply a braking action to the caster wheel |6 it is only necessary to rotate the pin 36 by means of a socketor other type of wrench applied to the head of the pin, in a direction which will move the sleeve 21 downwardly towards the caster wheel |6,.through the engagement of the pinion gear 39 with the gear teeth on the sleeve 21. Upon continued rotation of the pin 36, the lower end 40, of the sleeve 21 will contact the peripheral surface of the caster wheel I6 and exert a positive braking action This will also prevent theswivelling action of the casterwheel. Upon rotating the pin 36 inthe reverse direction, the sleeve 21 moves upwardly, 'thereby moving out of contact with the caster wheel and releasing the same for free rotational and swivelling movement.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '1 is shown a caster structure Hla similarto that shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 except as noted below and illustrating a modiiied construction. The same comprises a yoke member lla which comprises legs |2a on which is A mounted a pin v 5 for rotatably receiving the caster wheel Hijas previously described. The legs |2a are interconnected at their upper ends by a circular wall member l3nt which is formed with a series of rectangular open ended slots |31) on the periphery thereof for the purpose hereinafter described. The number of slots as well as their circumferential disposition may be varied. For the purpose of illustration, four slots disposed at 90 degree intervals, is shown. The circular wallmember |3a is further formed with a recess 4| on its under side which is disposed between the legs |2a. The legs |2a of the yoke lla comprise a pair of apertured lugs 42 disposed below the circular wall |3a in spaced relation thereto and above the caster wheel I6. A pivot pin 43 is mounted on the lugs 42 and a pivoted brake shoe 44 is secured on the pin. The brake shoe 44 comprises an arcuate vunder surface 45 on one side of the pivot pin 43, which is complementary to the periphery of the caster wheel |6 and is disposed over the same. Extending from the upper surface of the brake shoe 44 is an upstanding pin 46 disposed on the other side of the pivot pin 43 and aligned with the recess 4| in the circular wall member |3a. A coil spring 41 is interposed between the brake shoe 44 and the circular wall member 33a being positioned on the pin 46 and in the recess 4|. The brake shoe 44 further comprises a pair of spaced, upstanding guide lugs 48 extending from the upper surface thereof, opposite the curved undersurface 45, for the purpose hereinafter described.

:An internally threaded. sleeve 43 is rotatably mounted on the externally threaded disc 26. The sleeve 49 'comprises a lower edge 59 which adapted to be received between the guide lugs 4t on the brake shoe 44 when the sleeve approaches the brake shoe upon its downward movement. The sleeve 49 further comprises a radially extending horizontal extension 5| thereof. The extension 5| is formed with a bore 52 which opens on the internal threaded wall portion of the sleeve 49. The outer end of the extension 5| has screwed thereto a closure 53 formed with an opening 54 in the base portion thereof, aligned with the bore 52 in the extension. The closure 53 comprises a pair of parallel lugs 55 projecting from the base portion thereof and disposed on opposite sides of the opening 54. The outer ends of the lugs 55 are formed with aligned, shallow recesses 56. A plunger 51 is disposed within the bore 52 of the extension 5| for slidable and rotary movement therein. The plunger 51 cornprises an end portion 58 of rectangular cross section which is adapted to be received in enf,

' with the portion of rectangular cross section 58.

The stem 59 projects through the opening 54 in the closure 53 and terminates in a transversely extending handle 6|. A coil spring 62 is mounted on the stem 59 and is disposed between the shoulder 69 and the inner side of the closure 53. The handle 6| on the plunger 51, in its normal, retracted disposition, is disposed transversely of the lugs 55, being received in the recesses 55 thereof. In such position, the end of the plunger 51 is disposed inwardly of the threaded inner surface of the sleeve 49. Upon pulling the handle 5| outwardly against the action of the spring 62 and rotating the handle 90 degrees in either direction, the plunger 51 is adapted to be urged in. wardly by the spring 62 towards the circular wall |3a. During the inward movement of the plunger the handle 6| passes between the lugs 55. The inward movement of the plunger 51 permits the end portion 58 thereof to project beyond'the internally threaded surface of the sleeve 49 into engaging relationship with a slot |3b in the circular wall member |311, thereby locking it into a predetermined position and preventing rotary movement between the yoke Ila and the sleeve 49. To release the wall |3a for free swivelling action, it is only necessary to pull the handle 6| outwardly, thereby withdrawing the end 58 of the plunger from engagement with thev slot 49 in the wall 3a. When the handle 6| is withdrawn sufficiently to clear the lugs 55, the handle 6| is rotated 90 degrees in either direction and the handle is released. The spring 62 will then m'ove the handle 6| into engagement with the recesses 5.6 in the lugs 55, leaving the end 58 of the plunger in its normal, retracted position.

Means is also provided for facilitating the rotary movement of the sleeve 49. To this end, a handle 62a extends upwardly from the outer surf ace of the sleeve 49 and is vdisposed above the base of the extension 5|.

Upon rotating the sleeve 49, by the use of the handle 62, in a direction to produce downward movement thereof, the lower edge 50 of the sleeve guided by the lugs 48 engages the upper surface of the brake shoe 44. Upon continued downward movement of the sleeve, the brake shoe 44 is pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot pin 43, thereby bringing the arcuate undersurface 45 ofthe brake shoe into braking contact Withthe caster wheel I6. -Upon reversing the di- .movernos rection of vrotation 'of VLthe :sleeve 549., "the `upward movement Aofthe sleevewillirelease 'thebrakenhoe from contact with the caster wheel, thespring '47 "rotating the brake "shoe 51441111 .fa rclockwise Y.direction I.about the :pivotpin l1483 .thereby :restoring theibrake shoe to` its:normal position out of .contact 4with :the :caster '.wheel.

It ils apparent :that "the 'foregoing "construction, the swivelling action lof "ithe caster I llafmay ine-'controlled.independently of thebraking action of caster'wheel IB. Thispermits'the movement otra structurexequipped Ywith such a construction invargiven direction. The `brake .may then fbe uapplied :when necessary.

In VFig.. .8 :is :shown :a v.caster V.construction tub embodying: the inventions-and. illustrating almodiiedconstruction. 'The same .comprises a :yoke il Ib -which includes'ar circularinterconnectingrtop wall I3 which :also forms a A.lo-wer ball `bearing race. .Opposed-:theretothe 'peripheral'ly threaded circular :disc .210 mounted .:on the :shank H, :as previously described, :formsian upper :balllbearing race. .The caster-construction .includes the caster -wheel .l 6 s rotatably mounted kbetween the.1 legs Il 2 a of the yoke `IIrb. The; shank r1.1 interconnectsthe yoke I I b. andthe disci` 2 Urin Ythemannernorev-irmsly described. Y

Means is provided forisimultaneously `render ing both .the :rotatableandrswivelling actionof the caster wheellineffiective. :SEothisfend there is .provided .sa bell .shaped .walledihousing 2.6131roe `.tatablymounted.'onthedisc 20fand: enclosing the caster .wheel L6. `The ihousingl *comprises :a lower :skirt :portion 6.'4 'of large diameter conM necte'd fto :la :neckfportion .65 of relatively :smaller diameter. `foy `r an intermediate inwardly land upwardlyacurved portion `2li-l.. 'The skirt'porti'onf comprises an enlarged-beadedvperipheraliedge fir] which-.is adapted 'to -rcon'tact a base surface over which the caster wheel I6 travels. The wall portions 64 and SB-'are-offsuch-dimensions as to clear the peripheral yportionseof the casterfwheel fili. The neck portion 65 of the housing isrformedlwith an internally screw threaded surface 63 which engages the peripherally screw threaded portion of thedisc 2E). The upperedge of the necktportion 65 is fformed vwi-thYciremnferentially,lspaced vslots 69 whichare-adaptedftofreceive thefend-o'fa wrench or the 4like, therebySfacilitating the rrotational Imovement of 4the housing. l

`It isapparent fromaconsideration of Fig 98, the'housing16-3may be rotatediina directionto "move vthe housing `"downwardly 4@towards 5a A:base

surface. Uponcontinued 'downward movement of the housing liptheilower edge-.61 thereof will extend beyond the lower portion of the caster wheel I6 which is in contact with the said `base surface. Insuch Ia position, fthe casterjwheel I6 `will be elevated with respect'tofand no'longer in contact with, the base surface. Accordingly, the caster wheel will be ineffectual to either rotate or swivel, thereby iixing the position of the tubular member Ha with respect to the base surface. Upon rotating the housing 63 in the reverse direction, the upward movement thereof will restore the caster wheel I6 to its normal position on the base surface and permit its usual rotating and swivelling action.

In Fig. 9 is shown a caster construction Hc similar to that illustrated in Figs. 1-3 except that the bracket portions 29, 30, 33 and 34 are replaced by a bracket 29a extending horizontally from a lower portion of the leg member Ha and secured thereto by rivets, welding or the like. The bracket 29a comprises a thickened bearing `.portion "Bla its 'footer sn'lLLin which :is notait# ably-mountedraheatiedpin'a. .anffcollarrsecured ato the pin 36a .below #.th'e bearing portion '34a `prevents llongitudinal zmovement :of the zpin. it `pinion -ilgsecureifto the=1lower;end;ponti:onfff pinmmeshesmith theteethronssleeve 21.. llfhe sleeve Z211 :is moved towards and .away :from ithe caster :Wheel :LS by therusec'df 'a 'wrench :applied `to the I head :of Lthe spin 136a, 1in `.the nnanneripre- -vi'ously described .iIt :will be :apparent :that the :caster construev .tion described :above is :adapted do brake ithe wheelimemberrof tithe construction 1in ra relatively -fsimplennannen Itwlllthnsfbexsseenthat `there is .provided `a device Lin Afw-nich :the :several .objects :for kthis im vention are achieved, i and Awhich .is well radapted to meetthe conditionstofpracticaluse.

@As warious :possible embodiments might be made o1' the 'above `iinvention, `and .as rvm'ious 4c'hai-:ges@mightbenxracleinthe .embodiment sabove set orthaor-r's'howniinthe ff accompanying draw-ing Iit :is fto l'be inlterpretediasiillustrativeiand not in 2a limiting sense. l l

@Havingdhus fdescrib'ed myrinventionill claim 'as 'newfandzdesiretoisecureiby lLetters Patent:

1.. @l :caster comprising :a fshak member, fa yoke 'fswivelled `:about alle .axis :of :said shan-k ntlernber,` amhel mounted for rotation-nn Vsaid vyokelonasnaxisqrerpendiculartossaid `axis ofssaid yshan-k member, :an `:annular plate son vsaid :Eshan-k .fiorxned` `.with external fsm-few threads, a sfsleeve 'having linter-'nal screw tlrreadsfengaging fthe threadsfonfsaid Lplate, gear teeth ron said r-sleeve, .fand fa Apinion meshing with ssaid Sgear *teeth said Asleeve'dyeingadapted@to zpressfaganstsaidravheel -upon turning fsaidrsleeve inten-e direction.

l2. caster comprising :a 's'hank imo-mbar, 1a yoke swivelly mounted on theraxisof Esaidfsharrk -menibera :vvhel#rotatably -mountedfonrsaid yoke, Ian Yanmilar sfilate Sormefd iwith fexternal 'screw threads fil-xsd 5to .fsaid fshank rmeniber, :an :11i-tern many :screw threaded fsleeve Vfenga'g'ing the ythreads son 'sai'tl :annular plate, :said :sleeve lbeing iormetl ywith iteeth 'on the fexternal :portions itheneoffalfbraoket oir-said yoke :disposent inspaced 4relationshipftossaid isleeve, aheaded v:pin rotaia.- yably-.-xno1mteid .onsaid "bracket with iitslaxis mar'- `allel fto'thefaxis of fsaid :shank member, and :a pinionion :said 1pm :and engaging the ftee'th v'on said sleeve.

'53. Tin f-combination 4'a member V'and a t-:aster I*von said fmeniber, :said caster "comprising ia .shank member, :a woke -fsvvivelly` mounted on 1 the :axis I o'f 'saidshanikamemma :a wheel-sommen: mounten y"on-said f-yke, 'en eanmilar "plate yformed with `vlexternal screwthreadsixedfto fsa'id-fshankfmember.. fan y'internally Aescrow @threaded lsleevefengaging the fthreads on said lannular plate, means associated With the sleeve to press against the Wheel upon turning the sleeve in one direction said sleeve being formed with teeth on the external portions thereof, a bracket on one of said members, a pin rotatably mounted on said bracket with its axis parallel to the axis of the shank member, and a pinion on said pin meshing with the teeth on said sleeve.

4. A caster comprising a shank, a base plate fixed to the shank and having an external diameter greater than the external diameter of the shank and being `formed with external screw threads, said base plate being formed with a central opening, a stud on the shank projecting through said opening, a nut screwed to the lower end of the stud, a yoke comprising a topplate 6L A caster comprising a shank, a

7 formed with a central opening through which said stud passes, said topiplate being interposed between the base plate and said nut, said yoke including a pair Vof oisetarms extending downwardly. from the top plate, a whee1 mounted for rotation between said oiset arms on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shank and oiiset therefrom, a sleeve having internal screw threads engaging said external screw threads. a portion of said sleeve overlying the top of said wheel whereby rotation of thesleeve in one direction will cause the sleeve to bear against said wheel and brake the wheel, a pin rotatably mounted in transversely spaced relation to said shank, and a pinion carried by pin and meshing. with teeth upon the sleeve to rotate rthe sleeve andshift the sleeve vertically when the pin is'turned.

5. A caster comprising a shank adapted to engage within the lower open'end of a tube, an annular plate lixed-` with respect to the shank, said annular plate having external screw threads and ofV a diameter greaterthan the shank, a yoke comprising a top plate rotatably mounted about the axis of the shank, arms extending downwardly from the top plate, a wheel rotatably mounted between said arms on an axis perpendicular of the axis of the shankand offset therefrom, a sleeve having internal screw threads-,engaging said external screw threads of said plate, the sleeve also having external teeth, a portion of saidsleeve overlying the -top of said wheel whereby rotation of said sleeve in one direction will cause thesleeve to move toward the wheel for frictionally -gripping and braking the same, and rotation of said sleeve in an opposite direction will cause the sleeve to move upwardly away from said wheel, and actuating means'for said sleeve including -a vrotatable lpinion meshing with the teeth ofthe sleeve. Y 'j base plate fixed to the shank and having an external diameter greater than-the external diameter of the shank and being formed withexternal screw threads, said base plate being formed with a centralv opening,v a stud on the shank projecting through'said opening, a yoke comprising a top plate formed with a central opening through which said stud rotatably passes, said yoke including a pair of oiset arms extendingdownwardly from the top plate,a wheel mounted for rotation between said offset arms on an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shank and offset therefrom, a sleeve having internal screw threads engaging said external screw threads, means on the arms for rotating said sleeve including a rotatably mounted vertically disposed pin and a gear meshing with rteeth about the sleeve, a portion of said sleeve overlying the top of said wheel whereby rotation of the sleeve in one direction to move it towards the wheel will cause the sleeve to apply gripping pressure against said wheel to brake the wheel.

7. A caster comprising a shank adapted to engage within the lower open end of a tube, an annular plate iixed with respect to the shank, said annular plate having external screw threads and being of a diameter greater than the shank, a yoke comprising a top plate rotatably mounted about the axis. of the shank, arms extending downwardly from' the top plate, a Wheel rotata bly mounted between said arms on an axis perf pendicular of the axis of the shank and oiset therefrom, a sleeve having internal screw threads engaging said external screw threads, a portion of said sleeveoverlying the top of said wheel, means on the sleeve for rotating said sleeve, whereby rotation of said sleeve in one direction will cause the sleeve to move toward the wheel for applying braking pressure to the same and r0- tation of said sleeve in an opposite direction will cause the sleeve to move upwardly away from said wheel for relieving said braking pressure.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein the top plate carries a brakeY shoe normally disposed out of contact with the wheel and moves into gripping engagement with the wheel when ,the sleeve is moved towards the wheel.

9. The structure of claim 7 Vwherein the top plate carries a brake shoe pivotally mounted for vertical tilting movement towards and away from the wheel, said shoe being normally disposed out of engagement with the wheel and having a portion extending under the sleeve in position adapt,- ing the shoe to be engaged by the'sleeve and tilted downwardly into gripping engagement with the wheel when the sleeve is moved downwardly to a pressure applying position.

- JOHN P. REINHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the I me' of this patent:

UNITED Y, STATES PATENTS Germany July 1, 1910 

